All the wonders of the world

(1541-1614)

The special exhibition shows approx. 100 most precious works of art of the collections of Ferdinand II, which over the years have been moved to the Emperial court in Vienna. Unique objects made of valuable materials from the "Kunstkammer", the "Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer" and the "Sammlung Alter Musikinstrumente" of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna came back to their original place of exhibition.

The Ambras-collections were already an attraction during the lifetime of their founder Archduke Ferdinand II (1529-95), son of Emperor Ferdinand I. Ferdinand II was one of the most important patrons of the Habsburg family. He founded the three armouries and the chamber of art and curiosities. They were designed and used as a museum from the beginning. Since the 17th century guided tours had been organized, and famous visitors like Queen Christina of Sweden or Johann Wolfgang von Goethe came to see the collections.

The term "chamber of art and curiosities" was used for the first time for the Ambras- collections in the 16th century. It is the oldest museum of that kind preserved in situ. In contents the natural and artistic objects represent the programme of the late Renaissance encyclopedic collections. Ferdinand II was mostly interested in his armouries. They contain very rare examples of armours from the 15th century which originally belonged to Emperor Maximilian I. Armours for tournaments like the German joust or the German course Ferdinand was mostly interested in his armouries. They contain very rare examples of tornament armours, festive armours and the archduke’s private armours. They were made by the most famous gold- and silversmiths to represent the princes‘ importance.

The special exhibition shows approx. 100 most precious works of art of the collections of Ferdinand II, which over the years have been moved to the Emperial court in Vienna. Unique objects made of valuable materials from the "Kunstkammer", the "Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer" and the "Sammlung Alter Musikinstrumente" of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna came back to their original place of exhibition. Also the castle itself, which was constructed according to the most advanced ideas of Ferdinand‘s time, can be seen as an exhibit.

Amongst the most outstanding objects of this special exhibition are the "Maximilianspokal", a lidded goblet which belonged to Emperor Maximilian I, the "kleine Reiger", a rock crystal receptacle shaped like a heron with a goldsetting with precious stones, the silver writing set of Wenzel Jamnitzer which is decorated with naturalistic small animals and the "Natternzungenkredenz", a goblet decorated with fossilized shark teeth as well as handstones, bronzes and unique playcards. One of the most famous festive armours is the "Adlergarnitur" of Ferdinand II made by Jörg Seusenhofer. It was a present from his father Emperor Ferdinand I in 1547.